Police: Woman left great-grandson to die in hot car

Police said Carolyn Davis, 67, left the baby in the vehicle from 7:30 am 2:30 pm on April 5 while she watched the boy’s 4-year-old sibling. Authorities claimed the car’s windows were closed and inside temperatures possibly reached 120 to 140 degrees that day, according to WSAZ.

The child’s mother found her unresponsive son when Davis and the older child picked her up from work. Police suspected the 19-month-old succumbed to heat exposure.

West Virginia State Police Cpl. A.B. Ward told WOWK that the 67-year-old had been watching the two kids for the past few months as their mother worked.

Authorities alleged that the car and home were filthy—with the home having little room for the children to sleep. They believe the home’s condition was part of the reason why Davis left the toddler in the car.

“We really believe with the shape the house was in, that the best place for the baby was probably the car for the great-grandmother to leave him there,” Point Pleasant Police Department Lt. Shawn Ross told WSAZ. “And it had been cool since she’s had the child since January. This happened to be a hot day, and it just got too hot.”

Police also alleged that Davis knew the baby was dead but didn’t want to be the one to report it. Despite this, officers don’t believe she intentionally left her great-grandson in the vehicle, the West Virginia MetroNews reported.

Ohio police took the great-grandmother into custody on May 5. Davis was extradited to West Virginia where on Thursday she was arraigned on a child neglect causing injury charge.

Davis is being held on a $500,000 bond. The Charleston Gazette-Mail reported that the 67-year-old faces a maximum of 15 years behind bars and a $5000 fine if convicted.